Set your sights on warm places to visit in October – peak shoulder season is a great time to reach for the sun. The highs of summer prices and temperatures are falling fast. Schools are back, so destinations are quieter. And if you’re happy to travel long haul, some extraordinary places are at their best.
Fall may have transformed much of the Northern Hemisphere into a panoply of pastel colors, but in many places the sun still shines and the rains are yet to arrive. Florida, Southern Europe, and Southeast Asia in particular can be great at this time of year.
Warm places to visit in October 2024
Filter below by price or temperature to find the best warm places to visit in September based on KAYAK data, or read on for my picks on where to go.
The best warm places to visit in October in the US
Much of the mainland US cools fast in fall, but there are pockets of warmth, particularly on the coasts. Beyond my Florida-centric picks, KAYAK data points to Honolulu as a Hawai‘ian hotspot. West Coast stalwarts LA and San Francisco are always popular too, with mild temperatures and little to no rain.
1. Key West, Florida
- Average October temperature: 81°F
Florida is your go-to state for fall sun and warm temperatures in the US (on the mainland, at least.) At its southernmost tip sits Key West where long bright days and balmy evenings are the October norm. Average temperatures hover at 81°F for the month and don’t drop below 75°.
Its remote geography has given Key West a delightfully eccentric and tropical feel. It’s small enough to cover over a weekend at only seven square miles. Expect long walks peppered with brisk swims at deserted beaches and piles of seafood.
I love the solitude and sunsets at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park and the classic Caribbean cuisine at Blue Heaven. October also ushers in stone-crab season – delicious!
2. Miami, Florida
- Average October temperature: 81°F
With its laid-back vibe, white-sand beaches, and swaying palms, Miami always looks like it should be warm. The peak summer months are almost unbearably hot and busy. But as October rolls around, temperatures level off to what I would call perfect.
The monthly average is 81°F, the average high 86°F. That’s beach weather, and in October the crowds are non-existent compared to spring and summer. Beyond South Beach, hit Bal Harbour to see and be seen, or Virginia Key Beach Park for solitude and great views.
You may have to dodge the odd heavy rain shower, but there are enough museums and galleries to entertain you for days. At the unique Museum of Graffiti, check out the excellent Art of Hip Hop exhibition.
If you’re inspired to try your hand, head to the legendary Wynwood Walls street art experience.
3. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Average October temperature: 79°F
Moving north along the Florida coast, October temperatures drop a little in Fort Lauderdale. Although not enough to make a noticeable difference. Average temperatures drop just below 80° but average highs align with Miami at 86°F.
When the sun shines, the star of the show is Fort Lauderdale’s 23 miles of beachfront. Las Olas is at the heart of the action. Its long, easy-access beach and nearby boulevard filled with shops, bars, and restaurants draw locals and tourists alike.
I prefer Dania Beach to the city’s south. The deck of the Quarterdeck seafood restaurant at the pier is a great place to see out the day with giant margaritas and platters of shellfish.
Just north, Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park is rich with birds, wildlife and sea turtles. It’s a refreshing sanctuary from the mania of development along the coast.
4. Palm Beach, Florida
- Average October temperature: 81°F
Palm Beach may be the billionaire’s playground, but you don’t need nine zeros in your bank account to enjoy its glitz and glamor. In fact, peeling back its rich and seemingly impenetrable facade is half the fun of visiting.
With October temperatures averaging in the 80s and sun-kissed blue skies, Golden Beach is your first port of call. Walk the A1A to see some of the most opulent houses in America and chance your arm with a stroll on the private beach. Hit up Worth Avenue for some (most likely window) shopping.
Best of all, book a spot in one of Palm Beach’s glitziest resorts. You don’t need to be a guest at The Breakers to snag a seat at its oceanfront Seafood Bar. Nor at celeb favorite The Colony to book a poolside table at Swifty’s. Just remember: dress to impress.
5. Orlando, Florida
- Average October temperature: 75°F
If it’s October warmth you seek but you’re a realist to the chances of inclement weather, Orlando is a great option. That goes double if you have kids. You’ll find warm temperatures and among the most affordable hotel stays in Florida (around $155 a night in October).
When the skies are clear, it offers everything you need. Nearby beaches like Daytona, New Smyrna (great surfing) and Clearwater. Also not far away, the epic Everglades for a headlong dive into nature. In Downtown Orlando, Lake Eola Park is an urban oasis. Al fresco eating is also on the cards – 2024 saw no fewer than 48 Orlando restaurants receive Michelin honors.
When the weather does turn, you’ll be equally spoiled for choice. Disney World, Universal Resort, Legoland and Harry Potter’s Wizarding World are the main attractions, drawing tens of millions of visitors annually. More cerebral yet no less fun is the amazing Kennedy Space Center, just 50 miles away.
6. Las Vegas, Nevada
- Average October temperature: 70°F
There’s much more to Las Vegas than the Strip (though it’s always worth spending a night indulging its attractions.) City temperatures average 70°F in October, but highs climb to 81° and hotel prices are around $200 a night. Beyond the city, the Mojave Desert is also hot. My tip is to skip the rainbow glow of the Strip and head West.
Along the way stop off in Chinatown to feast on Asian cuisine and rub shoulders with the big resort chefs on downtime. Walk around European-styled Tivoli Village where you can shop til you drop in Boca Park or swing some clubs at the TPC.
Further west, escape the city at the Red Rock National Conservation Area with 30 miles of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails.
Book into the Red Rock Resort & Spa and ask for a room with a Red Rock view so you can stare out over the sandstone cliffs. The perfect tonic to Sin City behind you.
The best warm places to visit in October in Europe
Alongside my choices – two of the world’s great capitals – there are a few other European spots that shine in October. KAYAK data shows Greece and Nice on the French Riviera hold their summer warmth deep into fall.
7. Lisbon, Portugal
- Average October temperature: 64°F
Portugal’s capital is having a moment. Lisbon’s fusion of history and charm, relaxed attitude, low prices, great food and year-round warmth has caught the world’s attention.
This has made it a hub for digital nomads in particular. The resulting buzz is tangible across the city. October is a great time to tackle the seven hills of grand boulevards and cobbled lanes that define its barrios. Average temperatures sit in the mid-60s but highs regularly climb to the low 70s.
Warm enough to wander its extravagantly developed riverfront; cool enough to climb its many steep streets without overheating. Rain is a rarity.
Head for the barrios of Alto, Chiado and Alfama. Forget the map and follow your nose into the maze of streets. Along the way, you’ll find the best of Lisbon.
Incredible restaurants, teeming bars (more often than not spilling onto the streets) and wonderful local stores. When the day (and your feet) are done, ride the iconic yellow tram home.
8. Barcelona, Spain
- Average October temperature: 63°F
The city of Gaudí is my favorite in the world. Its long history and extraordinary growth is evident in every street and building. From the Gothic Quarter’s warren of lurching alleys to the esplanades of Eixample, post-industrial Poblenou to majestic MontJuïc. Across it all, is the earth-shattering architecture and art of Antoni Gaudí.
Park Güell, La Pedrera-Casa Milà, and the Sagrada Família should be your starting points. The Sagrada Família in particular is resplendent in the fall sun. Try to visit late afternoon when its low rays cast the multicolored windows ablaze.
October temperatures average 63°F but regularly climb into the mid-70s. Among the driest cities in Europe, Barcelona is in drought so rain is seldom a concern (but water conservation certainly is.)
While it may be shoulder season, Barcelona is always busy with tourists and prices remain stable year-round. Expect to pay around $700 for flights and just under $200 a night for a hotel.
The best warm places to visit in October in Asia
If you’re happy to invest in the price of a plane ticket, Asia is a tropical oasis in October. Hot, humid, thriving and alive – it’s a wakeup call to the senses.
If it's megacities you’re after, KAYAK data shows Hong Kong and Singapore both swelter close to 80°F. Trust me though, both are worth every drop of sweat.
9. Thailand
- Average September temperature: 82°F
Beyond Bangkok, most of Thailand is hot and humid in October. The quieter, greener north dodges much of the fall rain that soaks the south, making it one of the best warm places to visit in October. Chiang Mai mixes modern and ancient and is popular with tourists.
A few hours to the north, however, Chiang Rai offers a more relaxed slice of traditional Thai life. Rich in Lanna culture, there are many temples to explore, none more exotic and strange than Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple.
Chiang Rai also serves as a launch point to the Golden Triangle, the viewpoint over the Mekong where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar (Burma) meet.
Don’t miss Mae Sai market where you can pick up a border pass and cross into Tachileik in Myanmar for a spot of shopping.
10. Fukuoka, Japan
- Average October temperature: 66°F
On the southern Japanese island of Kyushu, friendly Fukuoka’s long cultivated under-the-radar vibe is undergoing a transformation. October temperatures range from the mid 60s to the mid 70s and rain is rare.
Ideal for what is one of Japan’s most compact and walkable cities. Shop souvenirs in the quirky stores of Hakata Kawabata-dōri street, picnic in Ohori Park, take a ferry to verdant Nokonoshima Island Park.
Fukuoka’s mobile food scene has turned it into a genuine foodie destination, not least for the unbeatable Hakata Ramen. Head to the independent yatai street food stalls around Nagahama, Nakasu and Tenjin, and don’t be afraid to say hello.
The yatai are all about interaction and socializing, and are a way of life for locals. Put away your mobile and don’t linger after you’ve finished, as places are limited!
Where is hot and cheap in October?
In the US, many of the warmer destinations come with serious price tags. According to KAYAK data, Orlando is the most attractive cheap destination. Average temperatures hold at 75°F but highs average a sweltering 84°F. Hotel prices average at around $155 a night.
If your budget stretches to flights, the best tropical destinations in October are in Southeast Asia. On the ground, Bangkok is the definition of hot and cheap. Temperatures average 82°F and hotel prices average $70 a night.
Taipei City is another great option – more manageable 75°F average temperatures and hotels at $105 a night. Need help making a decision? Try KAYAK Explore.
Earlier in the shoulder season, September is another great month to seek some post-summer sun. And if you’re still craving it into winter, KAYAK has you covered with guides to where it's hot in November and December. Whatever you choose, book cheap flights, and car rental and don’t forget somewhere to stay.
Recommendation ranking of cities:
Our recommendation ranking of where to go is calculated based on the presented five factors: average flight prices, average hotel prices, average, high, and low temperatures, and average precipitation. Flight prices, hotel prices, and precipitation constitute inverse factors, the less the better. All factors are equally weighted. From the ranked destination lists, destination exclusions may have been applied in cases of insufficient data or according to the official travel advisory at the time when the data analysis was conducted.Flight and hotel prices:
Average prices are estimated from KAYAK internal data from search period ‘2024-02-01’ to ‘2024-04-15’ for travel period ‘2024-09’ - ‘2024-12’. Flight prices include economy class return trips for one traveler, and hotel prices represent 3 stars or below hotels’ nightly rates for a standard double room. Price insights are subject to vary depending on exact departure airport and over time as travel dates are approaching.Weather (monthly average, high, and low temperatures, and average precipitation):
Weather data is pulled from a third-party site, Weatherbase, and has not been verified by KAYAK. Monthly average temperature and precipitation data are based on historical insights from the past 102 years. Weatherbase data is updated in real-time from the US Census Bureau and other databases worldwide.
